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Copy 1 



REPORT 



OF THE 




HALIFAX RELIEF EXPEDITION 

December 6 to 15, 1917 



BY 



Hon. A. C. RATSHESKY, Commissioner-in-Charge 



TO 



SAMUEL WALKER McCALL 

Governor of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts 



Printed by an order of the Council dated June 12, igi8 




WRIGHT AND POTTER PRINTING COMPANY, STATE PRINTERS 

32 DBRNE STREET, BOSTON 

1918 



nifli 



iiiii 

mi I 



REPORT 



OF THE 



HALIFAX RELIEF EXPEDITION 

December 6 to 15, 19 17 



BY 



Hon. A. C. RATSHESKY, Commissioner-in-Charge 



TO 



SAMUEL WALKER McCALL 

Governor of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts 



Printed by an order of the Council dated June 12, ipi8 




WRIGHT AND POTTER PRINTING COMPANY, STATE PRINTERS 
32 DERJME STREET, BOSTON 

1918 






Digitized by the Internet Archive 
in 2010 with funding from 
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http://www.archive.org/details/reportofhalifaxrOOmass 



EEPORT OF THE HALIFAX RELIEF EXPEDITION. 



His Excellency Samuel W. McCall, Governor of the Commonwealth of 
Massachusetts, State House, Boston, Massachusetts. 

Your Excellency: — I have the privilege to submit here- 
with a formal report on the Halifax Rehef Expedition, of which 
you did me honor by placing me in charge, giving in detail the 
part the Commonwealth played in sending the Relief Expedi- 
tion to Halifax, N. S. 

The first news of the disaster was received at the State 
House at about 11 o'clock a.m. on December 6, 1917. 

Immediately you sent a telegram to the Mayor of Halifax, 
offering the unhmited assistance of the Commonwealth, and 
called a meeting of the Massachusetts Public Safety Com- 
mittee, composed of one hundred men, representing all parts 
of the State, for 2.30 o'clock that afternoon, to take action 
relative to handling the relief work. Although short notice 
was given, the meeting was largely attended. 

Up to that time no answer had come to your telegram. 
Henry B. Endicott, Executive Manager of the Massachusetts 
Public Safety Committee, at your request, got into communi- 
cation with the War and Navy Departments at Washington 
and learned that no news of the disaster had been received by 
them, and, as requested, wireless was dispatched along the 
coast, through the Navy, to the Mayor of Halifax, offering 
assistance from Massachusetts, but no reply was had that day. 

Upon your request as to how soon and in what manner med- 
ical aid could be arranged. Colonel W^illiam A. Brooks, Acting 
Surgeon General of the Commonwealth, stated that if a special 
train could be had he would be able to dispatch a large corps 
of surgeons, doctors, nurses, and surgical and medical supplies 
in a few hours; and at your suggestion this plan was adopted 
by the committee, and James H. Hustis, receiver for the Boston 



& Maine Railroad and a member of the committee, agreed to 
have a train ready by 10 o'clock that night. Mr. Endicott, 
acting for you, made all preparations for the train to proceed 
to Halifax, and at about 5.30 o'clock in the afternoon I re- 
ceived your commission to take full charge of the expedition, 
in accordance with the following letter from you to the Mayor 
of Halifax, N.S.: — 

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts, 

Executive Department, State House, 

Boston, December 6, 1917. 
To the Mayor, City of Halifax, N. S. 

My Dear Mr. Mayor: — I am sending Hon. A. C. Ratshesky, of the 
Massachusetts Public Safety Committee, immediately to your city, with 
a corps of our best State surgeons and nurses, in the belief that they may 
be of , service to you in this hour of need. I need hardly say to you that 
we have the strongest affection for the people of your city, and that we 
are anxious to do everything possible for their assistance at this time. 
Kindly express to tJie people of your city the very deep sympathy of the 
people of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, and assure them that 
we are ready to answer any call that they may need to make upon us. 
Immediately upon hearing of the terrible blow dealt Halifax I sent the 
following telegram to you : — 

Understand your city in danger from explosion and conflagration. Reports 
only fragmentary. Massachusetts stands ready to go the limit in rendering every 
assistance you may be in need of. Wire me immediately. 

Upon being informed that the wires were out of commission, through 
the good offices of the Federal government at Washington this further 
telegram was sent you by wireless : — 

Since sending my telegram this morning offering unlimited assistance, an im- 
portant meeting of citizens has been held and Massachusetts stands ready to 
offer aid in any way you can avail yourself of it. We are prepared to send forward 
immediately a special train with surgeons, nurses and other medical assistance, 
but await advices from you. 

Won't you please call upon Mr. Ratshesky for every help that you 
need. The Commonwealth of Massachusetts will stand back of Mr. 
Ratshesky in every way. 

Respectfully yours, 

Samuel W. McCall, 
Governor. 

P. S. Realizing that time is of the utmost importance we have not 
waited for your answer but have dispatched the train. 



At about 7 o'clock in the evening the American Red Cross 
asked permission to send five or six representatives of that 
body on our train, as otherwise they would be obliged to wait 
until 9 o'clock the next morning. To this I consented, without 
authority from you, knowing that it would meet with your 
hearty approval. 

The train consisted of two Pullmans, one buffet car, one 
baggage car and an engine. Among the baggage were large 
Quantities of surgical instruments, medicines, hospital sup- 
plies, blankets, sweaters, clothing, etc. Before leaving I had 
obtained letters or telegrams from a high official of each of 
the four railroads over which we were to travel to reach Hali- 
fax, giving the right of way for this special relief train. 

The personnel of the expedition follows : — 

Surgeons and Doctors (All Members of the Massachusetts State 

Guard) . 
Major Harold G. Giddings (in command). 
Major Edward A. Supple. 
Major Donald V. Baker (Surgeon in Chief). 
Major George W. Morse. 
Major Peter Owen Shea. 
Captain Edward F. Murphy (Adjutant). 
Captain Thomas F. Harrington (Physician in Chief). 
Captain John W. Dewis. 
Captain Robert G. Loring (Ophthalmologist). 
Captain DeWitt G. Wilcox. 
Captain Nathaniel N. Morse (Anaesthetist). 
Quartermasters Department, Captain Benjamin D. Hyde, 
Quartermasters Department, Captain Henry G. Lapham. 

Red Cross Representatives. 

John F. Moors, Chairman, Civilian Relief Committee (Metropolitan Dis- 
trict) . 

C, C. Carsten, Secretary, Civilian Relief Committee (MetropoUtan Dis- 
trict). 

Miss Katherine McMahon, Associate Director, Civilian Relief Commit- 
tee (Metropolitan District) . 

J. Prentice Murphy, Secretary, Children's Aid Society. 

Wm. H. Pear of the Boston Provident Association. 

Miss Marion Rowe of the Boston Associated Charities. 



Nurses. 
Miss Elizabeth Peden (in charge) . 
Miss Charlotte Naismith. 
Miss Marion Nevens. 
Miss Mary A. Davidson. 
Miss Caroline E. Carlton. 
Miss Nellie P. Black. 
Miss Edith F. Perkins. 
Miss Elizabeth Choate. 
Miss Jessie Mclnness. 
Miss Florence B. Mclnness. 

Railroad Officials. 
G. V. Worthen, General Baggage Agent, Boston & Maine Railroad (going 

through to Halifax). 
M. L. Harris, General Passenger Agent, Maine Central Railroad (left 

train at Portland). 
E. F. S. Sturdee, General Agent, Canadian Pacific, Boston (through to 

Halifax) . 
C. K. Howard, General Agent, Canadian Government Railways, Boston 

(through to Halifax). 

Representatives of the Press. 
A. J. Philpott, Boston Globe. 
R. W. Simpson, Associated Press. 
Roy Atkinson, Boston Post. 
Richard W. Sears, Boston American. 
J. V. Keating, Boston Herald. 

We left Boston at 10 o'clock on the evening of the disaster, 
and at Portland, Me., and at each station from there on until 
we reached St. John, N. B., the next morning, we wired contin- 
uously to the Mayor of Halifax, without receiving an answer. 

At McAdam Junction we tried to get news from Halifax, 
but the most we obtained were rumors, and the more we 
received the worse they sounded. After consulting with Major 
Giddings, I called a meeting of the doctors, nurses and Red 
Cross workers, and requested that they take an inventory of 
the supplies, to learn if there were anything else they might 
need in such an emergency as I believed existed in Halifax, 
although we knew nothing definite. 

After leaving McAdam Junction we were besieged at every 
stop with requests for accommodations on our train for workers 
going to Halifax in various capacities. I instructed those in 



charge of the train to fill every available space, giving doctors 
and nurses the preference. Upon our arrival at St. John I 
instructed Captains Hyde and Lapham of the Quartermasters 
Department to secure additional drugs and supplies. They com- 
mandeered the services of King Kelly, Esq., a prominent lawyer 
of the city of St. John, who was waiting at the depot to go to 
Halifax as a member of the St. John unit. With his assistance 
we obtained large quantities of all kinds of medical supplies. 

That we might definitely know just what supplies we had, 
I had an inventory made of those on board the train, including 
those belonging to the medical unit and those brought by the 
Red Cross, all of which had been turned over to this unit for 
use and distribution, and found we had the following: ^ — 

564 fracture pillows. 
1,000 pillows. 
1,368 muslm bandages. 
53 splint straps. 
330 gauze compresses, 9 by 9 inches. 
4,000 gauze compresses, 4 by 4 inches. 

432 flannel bandages. 
1,196 bandages, 3 inches. 
2,694 gauze bandages. 
2,700 gauze compresses. 
1,200 gauze sponges. 
1,000 4-tail bandages. 
1,720 gauze rolls. 
204 fla/mel bandages. 
890 slings. 

8 Standard oil heaters. 
4 boxes lanterns, glass. 
21 pairs cotton blankets. 
36 gray heaxy army blankets. 
6 litters. 

3 bedpans. 

4 urinals. 

Red Cross Supplies. 
498 sweaters. 
226 flannel pajamas. 
333 convalescent gowns. 
8,300 gauze compresses, 4 inches. 
9,354 bandages, 1 inch. 
1 crate gauze sponges. 
378 triangular bandages. 
1 box miscellaneous. 



Medical Supplies. 
50 tubes morphine sulphate, I grain, hypodermic. 

5 tubes atropine, lio grain. 
100 salt solution tablets. 

1,000 aspirin tablets. 
500 calomel, TJ-grain tablets. 
500 cascara, 3-grain tablets. 
9 pounds ether, J-pound cans. 

6 pounds ether, ^-pound cans. 
10 gallons alcohol. 

^ gallon tincture iodine. 
100 corrosive tablets. 

1 pint carbolic acid, 95 per cent, solution. 
1 quart boracic acid^ 4 per cent, solution. 

And we purchased the following to add to our supplies: — 

10 gallons alcohol. 

1 gallon tincture iodine. 

5 pounds cotton. 

5 pounds boric ointment. 
30 pounds vaseline. 

8 ounces tincture digitalis. 
500 caps camphor in oil. 
" 1 gallon aromatic spirits of ammonia. 

1 gross assorted catgut in tubes. 

11 skeins No. 1 white twisted silk. 
8 ounces 4 per cent, cocaine. 

4 ounces 1 per cent, atropine. 
1 pint olive oil. 

12 pairs dressing scissors. 
12 pairs dressing forceps. 

1 dozen 4-ounce tins. 

1^ dozen glass stoppered bottles (empty) . 

2 dozen rolls adhesive 7 by 36 inches. 
4 dozen rolls adhesive 2 by 60 inches. 
4 pints brandy. 

. 1 gross safety pins. 

While at St, John we received the first intimation of the 
awfulness of the disaster, together with the information that 
all telegraph and telephone wires were down and that no 
word had been received from Halifax, except in a roundabout 
way, — by relay, — of what had happened. I immediately 



wired Mr. Endicott to forward at once a trainload of glass, 
putty and building materials of all kinds. 

At St. John we encountered a heavy snowstorm, one of the 
severest of the winter, accompanied by a gale of terrible 
velocity. The snow was piling up and progress was difficult. 
We lost considerable time between St. John and Moncton. At 
this point, to insure getting through to Halifax, a large freight 
engine was attached to the train. Beyond Truro and ]\Ioncton 
the storm increased and was a veritable blizzard. We were 
also dela^'ed several hours while our engine, which had broken 
down, was repaired. The climax was reached when we came up 
Folleigh ^Mountain, and the conductor in charge, C. H. True- 
man, accompanied by C. K. Howard, General Agent, Canadian 
Government Railways, stated that, as an enormous snowdrift 
lay across the track, it was impossible to proceed farther. I 
then showed them the telegram from the official of the rail- 
road, in which orders were given for the right of way to 
the special train. I pleaded with them to do everything in their 
power known to railroad men to clear the track. Under 
general conditions no attempt would have been made to keep 
the train moving, but the need was tremendously urgent. The 
men realizing this, and knowing that every moment was pre- 
cious, worked like Trojans. Within an hour, by hard shoveling, 
the use of steam and ramming, and amid great cheers from all 
on board, we went through the drift, which extended higher 
than the door of the baggage car. We succeeded in reaching 
Truro, and found another engine and crew waiting for the 
final haul to Halifax. 

We reached Halifax about 3 o'clock in the morning of 
December 8, with about sixty-five passengers, which included 
those taken on board at Fredericton Junction for Halifax. On 
account of the destruction of the depot at Halifax we were 
obliged to make a detour around the city. This was accom- 
plished on tracks which, fortunately, had been prepared to 
connect with the new deep-water terminus, then in process of 
construction. 

We landed at Rockingham Junction, which is six miles from 
the terminus. Mr. Howard and I had remained up all night. 
We got out of the train, but, as none of the officials connected 



10 

with the affairs of the city were near, we returned and were 
obliged to wait about three hours for the snowplough to clear 
the line to the terminus. We aroused all who had retired and 
ordered an early breakfast. 

We arrived at the terminus about 7 o'clock. I\Ir. Howard 
and I left the train, and, as well as we could, proceeded, up 
the main road to the building which had been taken by the Ca- 
nadian Government Railways for temporary headquarters. 
It was our good fortune to find there C. A. Hayes, General 
^Manager of the Canadian Government Railway's, — the first 
man we met in Halifax, and to whom I showed your letter to 
the Mayor, He was so affected that tears streamed down his 
cheeks. He arose and greeted me with: "Just like the people 
of good old Massachusetts. I am proud of them. I was born 
in that State, having formerly been a resident of West Spring- 
field," and added that anything he or his railroad could do was 
at our service. I asked him for the service of Mr. Howard 
during my stay in Halifax, which he gladl}^ granted. He gave 
us the use of his temporary wires, which had been connected 
with City Hall, and informed us that the private car of Sir 
Robert L. Borden, Premier of Canada, was on the tracks very 
near to ours. 

Accompanied by Mr. Hayes we went back to the road, near 
our car, and Mr. Hayes dispatched a message to the Premier, 
with the suggestion that members of the relief party from 
Massachusetts would be very glad to call upon him in his car 
as soon as possible. His answer came most informally. He 
joined us in person in a very few minutes, expressing to us in 
appropriate words his profound appreciation of the quick action 
on the part of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, and stat- 
ing that this was the first relief to arrive in Halifax. He asked 
us to join him in proceeding to City Hall in order to present 
your letter to the Mayor and to learn what disposition we 
should make of our party and supplies. I requested ]\Ir. John 
F. Moors of the Red Cross, Major Giddings of the medical 
unit, Mr. Hayes, General ^Manager of the Canadian Government 
Railways, and Mr, Howard to accompany us. 

The conveyance that we took, we were informed, had 
been used day and night in carrying the wounded to hospitals, 



11 

and the dead to the morgue. The young man driver had lost 
all the members of his family, consisting of his wife and four 
children. It was a gruesome start. Debris had not been re- 
moved from the streets, and after a great deal of difficulty we 
arrived, at about 9 o'clock, at City Hall, which is located in 
the center of the city. An awful sight presented itself, — build- 
ings shattered on all sides; chaos apparent; no order existed. 

We were ushered into the office of the Mayor and introduced 
by Premier Borden to His Honor Governor. McCulIum Grant 
of Nova Scotia, General Benson, Military Commandant of the 
District, Admiral Chambers, Naval Commandant of the Dis- 
trict, Colonel McKelvie Bell, Military INIedical Officer, Chief 
Justice Harris of the Supreme Court of Nova Scotia, Chair- 
man R. T. Macllreith and members of the temporary relief 
committee. 

The JNIayor's secretary informed us that the ]\Iayor was out 
of the cit}^ and that Colonel McKelvie Bell and his committee 
were in full charge of the medical relief of the entire city. In 
this room, which was about 12 by 20, were assembled men and 
women trying to organize different departments of relief, while 
the other rooms w^ere filled to their utmost capacity with people 
pleading for doctors, nurses, food and clothing for themselves 
and members of their family. Everything was in a turmoil, 
and apparently the first necessity was organization. 

In conference with Premier Borden, Colonel Bell, ]Major 
Giddings, 3Ir. ]\Ioors, Mr. Hayes and Judge Harris, we decided 
that organization was our first duty, but it was necessary to 
broach the subject very carefully, as the situation was delicate 
and we did not wish to appear as intruders. We suggested that 
a building away from City Hall should be secured for head- 
quarters for the relief committee, and as a result the City Club 
house, centrally located, was selected. 

The above-named conference committee then proceeded to 
the City Club, where they held a conference with other citi- 
zens in relation to the appointing of committees and to prop- 
erly organizing for relief work. From the time of the con- 
ference I was requested to join in the organization of different 
committees, to run the departments of the city and for relief. 
The immediate need was a Transportation Committee, on 



12 

account of the large number of people coming to the city for 
relief work and the arrival of great quantities of food, clothing 
and supplies which were being forwarded from all parts of 
Canada and the United States; a Committee on Supplies, to 
take charge of supplies of all kinds coming into the city, divided 
into food and clothing; a Finance Committee, to take charge 
of all moneys that were being sent in from all parts of the 
world; a Committee on Construction, to take charge of build- 
ings that were partially destroyed, that either had to be demol- 
ished or that could be temporarily repaired, and to get building 
supplies and labor from Canada and the United States; a 
Relief Committee, in which the members of the Red Cross, 
headed by ]\Ir. IMoors, took an active part, and to which they, 
with their experience, were particular!}^ adapted; a Housing 
Committee, to care for those whose homes had been entirely 
destroyed or which could not be repaired, and whose efforts 
must be directed to caring for the large number of people 
entering the city from Canada and the United States; a Med- 
ical Department, to divide up the work of the surgeons, doctors, 
nurses and assistants; a Warehouse Department, to properly 
sort, store and distribute all the supplies being rushed into the 
city. 

We then found that there was a great demand for doctors 
and nurses, which demand was partly filled by sending the 
members of our unit to different quarters of the city, with 
instructions to leave addresses so that all members of the unit 
could be readily gathered together that night, my opinion being 
that the greatest good could be done in keeping the unit work- 
ing together and in establishing a hospital at the earliest pos- 
sible moment. 

Major Giddings and Colonel McKelvie Bell, acting at my 
request, in company with leading doctors of the city, found a 
large building near the center of the city known as the Bellevue 
Building and used as the Officers Club house. The building 
was turned over to us in very bad condition, — not a door or 
window remaining whole, and water and ice on the floor of 
every room. Apparently, under ordinary circumstances, it 
would have been impossible to have put it into shape for a 
long time. But by 12.30 o'clock, on the first day of our 



13 

arrival, Major Giddings with his quartermasters, ably assisted 
by about fifty of the crew of the United States training ship 
"Old Colony," who had arrived under an officer in charge with 
orders to report to me for service in any way required, together 
with a company of Canadian soldiers, ordered by General 
Benson, immediately set to work cleaning the rooms, covering 
the windows with paper and boards, as best they could, wash- 
ing floors and woodwork, and removing all furniture to the 
upper part of the building. By 6 o'clock that night we had 
installed an operating room and had fitted up wards with one 
hundred beds and medical supplies taken from our relief train. 
On account of the urgency of the situation we received about 
sixty patients at 9 o'clock that night, and by noon the next 
day after our arrival the fully equipped American Bellevue 
Hospital, flying the American flag, was caring for one hundred 
patients and in full running order. This hospital received the 
worst cases from the different hospitals, which had become so 
overcrowded that proper attention could not be given them. 
This was especially true of the Military Camp Hill Hospital, 
which ordinarily could care for only three hundred patients 
but which was now caring for approximately sixteen hundred. 
Such equipment as was required in the nature of bedside 
tables, rubber sheets, dishes and silverware was furnished from 
the British Medical Stores Depot. The British authorities also 
furnished us with cooks, kitchen detail, and, from their com- 
missary, supplied the hospital with food. They also detailed 
us a corps of trained clerks and orderlies. 

On the day of our arrival we were entertained by Premier 
Sir Robert Borden at the Halifax Club, where the Premier made 
arrangements for the housing of the doctors of the unit, the 
Red Cross people, the newspaper men and myself. The club 
ordinarily has no sleeping facilities, and I am told that it is the 
first time in its history that beds have been set up. The nurses 
were quartered at private homes near the hospital, four of them 
being entertained at Government House, which is the Gov- 
ernor's private residence. 

In order to give you a report on the medical aspect of the 
mission on which you sent me I am herewith including in my 
report to you the report of one of my assistants, Major Harold 



14 

G. Giddings, to the Acting Surgeon General. I wish also to 
note that the following nurses, in addition to those who came 
with us, worked with our unit, and to whom great credit is 
due : — 

Miss Phillips. Mrs. Davidson. 

Miss Chambers. Mrs. Brock. 

Mrs. Leonard Tilley, Mrs. Mclntyre. 

Mrs. Allison. Miss Harrington. 

Mrs. Bowman. Miss Donville. 

Major Giddings in his report says : — 

We took formal possession of the Belle vue Military Hospital 
on the morning of December 9. That afternoon the hospital 
was officially visited by Sir Robert Borden, Premier of Canada. 
After his inspection His Excellency issued the following state- 
ment: "This afternoon I visited the hospital established at 
Belle vue by the Massachusetts hospital unit. They took pos- 
session yesterday afternoon at 2 o'clock, and within a few 
hours had every arrangement made for receiving patients, of 
whom nearly seventy-five are now being accommodated. All 
the arrangements were wonderfully planned considering the 
shortness of the time and difficulties that had to be overcome. 
The hospital is a triumph of organizing ability." 

On the evening of December 9 the commanding officer at- 
tended by request a meeting of Red Cross representatives, — 
Lieutenant-Colonel F. McKelvie Bell, Mr. Ratshesky and rep- 
resentatives of the Boston Red Cross unit, which with the 
independent contingent of Dr. E. A. Codman had reached 
Halifax that morning. Dr. Codman was also present at this 
conference. That day a Medical Relief Committee had been 
appointed, with Lieutenant-Colonel F. McK. Bell as chair- 
man. Among other things discussed at the meeting were ways 
and means of best caring for the sick and wounded of the city. 
As a result of observations made on the Sth by various mem- 
bers of this unit, who had visited many people in their homes, 
we were able to suggest the mapping of the city into districts, 
with the recommendation that a house-to-house canvass be 
made, first, by the social worker, who would report as to 
whether medical or surgical help was needed, the case then to 



15 

be seen by a doctor or nurse. This suggestion was made 
because our doctors found that large numbers of injured people 
requiring surgical aid had sought the shelter of buildings near 
the devastated area, where they were content to stay. So 
dazed were they by the disaster that they did not realize that 
help would come to them for the asking. Also, the members of 
our staff had found that many people could not leave their 
places of refuge for dressings because they had literally lost 
all their clothing. 

Another observation made by our doctors was that con- 
tagious diseases would be likely to make an early appearance, 
due to the complete destruction of toilet facilities, the huddling 
together of large numbers in small quarters and the general 
physical demoralization. Because of these conditions we rec- 
ommended the immediate establishment of a contagious hos- 
pital. That our surmise of early contagion was correct was 
proved by the fact that on December 12 three cases of throat 
infection, cultures of which immediately were made, were 
proved to be diphtheritic. 

Our suggestions, as above indicated, were both accepted, the 
house-to-house canvass being made by members of the United 
States medical units, which went to the aid of the city between 
the time of their arrival in the city and the establishment of 
their respective hospitals. \Yhile doing this work their head- 
quarters were at City Hall. 

The morning of December 10 saw the Stars and Stripes 
flying over the hospital, the first time they had appeared in the 
city following the disaster. The flag was secured for us by 
]Mr. Ratshesky. It is fitting here to record an incident in con- 
nection with the flag. It was brought to our attentioji that 
at the Camp Hill Hospital there was a woman from Lowell, 
Mass., Miss Martha Manter, so far as we know, with one 
exception, the onh* Massachusetts person injured in the disaster. 
Captain Harrington, whose home was formerly in Lowell, 
obtained permission to have ]Miss INIanter transferred to Belle- 
vue. After a good deal of effort the transfer was officially 
made. A laundry sleigh was commandeered, as all ambu- 
lances were engaged. As the patient was removed from the 
sleigh and carried into the hospital she broke down and cried. 



16 

When she finally gained control of herself, Captain Harrington, 
who thought perhaps the jarring of the sleigh had caused her 
pain, asked her what was the matter. Her reply was, "The 
sight of the American flag was too much for me, and I could 
not control myself. It looked so good to me." 

On this same day we received an official visit from Samuel 
Wolcott and Dr. W. E. Ladd, the respective civil and medical 
heads of the Massachusetts Red Cross unit, who were estab- 
lishing a hospital and were anxious to learn how we had pro- 
ceeded. We supplied them with copies of all our orders, 
which they very much appreciated, and explained to them in 
detail the workings of our hospital, of which they made a 
complete inspection. 

On the afternoon of December 11 the volume of work had 
become so great that additional nurses were required. We 
notified medical headquarters of this fact and they detailed to 
us the following -ladies, all from St. John, and all, with one 
exception, graduate nurses: Miss Chambers of St. Luke's Hos- 
pital, New York; Miss Phillips, V.A.D., two years, England; 
Miss Donville, Newport Hospital, Rhode Island; Miss Har- 
rington, Newport Hospital, Rhode Island; Mrs. Tilley, Royal 
Victoria Hospital, Montreal; Mrs. Allison, Newton Hospital; 
Newton; Mrs. Bowman, Waltham Hospital, Waltham; Mrs. 
Davidson and Mrs. Brock, Royal Victoria Hospital, Montreal; 
and Mrs. Mclntyre, Massachusetts General Hospital, Massa- 
chusetts. These ladies remained with us until we surrendered 
control of the hospital, and did very valuable work. 

A pleasing incident occurring this same day was a request 
from Colonel Bell that the commanding officer personally visit 
at Government House, the official residence of the Lieutenant- 
Governor, the son of Admiral Charles E. Kingsmill, who had 
been injured at the time of the explosion. The lad was more 
or less cut about the face, but fortunately was not seriously 
injured, and was taken to Ottawa the next afternoon by his 
father. 

Another pleasant occurrence on the 11th was the arrival of 
Mrs. Wendell Barrett from Boston, who brought a consider- 
able quantity of clothing for distribution, and certain needed 
hospital supplies, the gift of Mrs. Charles D. Sias of Boston. 



17 

Mrs. Barrett was met at the train by Dr. Dewis, who brought 
her and Mrs. Archibald, a prominent Hahfax lady, to the hos- 
pital, where we were able to offer certain suggestions toward 
the accomplishment of the work they had in mind. 

On the morning of the 12th there came to the hospital a 
sailor from the Norwegian boat concerned in the collision. He 
walked lame and one eye was injured. Examination failed to 
disclose any serious trouble, but for the purpose of obserX'^ation 
it was decided to keep him in the hospital twenty-four hours. 
Late that afternoon, during the confusion incidental to the 
inspection of the hospital by the Rhode Island contingent, to 
whom the plant was to be turned over that evening, Johnson 
was observed limping toward the stairway from the top floor. 
He was sent back to his ward by our medical officer. Later in 
the evening he offered $25 to one of our volunteer nurses if 
she would allow him to go home. She informed Captain 
Lapham of this, who then placed a guard over the man and 
immediately notified the provost marshal of the man's actions, 
with the result that his arrest was ordered, and the man is 
now in custody awaiting the result of the inquiry. On being 
searched a letter written in German, badly incriminating the 
man, was found on his person, also many notes concerning the 
catastrophe. 

On the morning of December 12, after a conference with 
Mr. Ratshesky, it seemed that the situation as regards medical 
aid was so well in hand that our unit might with propriety 
withdraw. In addition to the ^Massachusetts and Rhode 
Island Red Cross divisions, already referred to, there had 
arrived in the city a large number of doctors and nurses from 
Maine, prepared to establish a hospital. Other doctors had 
come independently, and altogether there was an abundance of 
professional help at hand. 

After this conference we held another, attended by Colonel 
Potter, Medical Department and Staff Officer from Ottawa, 
Colonel F. McK. Bell and Major Garry DeN. Hough, com- 
manding the Rhode Island division of the Red Cross. At this 
latter conference both Colonel Potter and Colonel Bell agreed 
that even without the aid of Massachusetts there were doctors 
enough to cope with the situation. Major Hough also expressed 



18 

his willingness to take over the command of Belleviie. That 
this arrangement might be official, I sent the following letter 
to Colonel Bell : — 

Bellevue Military Hospital, 
Halifax, X. S., December 12, 1917. 

Lieutenant-Colonel F. McKelvie Bell. 

The medical unit of the Massachusetts State Guard came to Halifax 
at the time of the disaster as a relief expedition to help until the relief 
work could be thoroughlj^ organized and until sufficient surgical help had 
been obtained to take care of the situation. 

Since there are at the present time sufficient civilian doctors and 
nurses in the city to cope with the situation, and because of the serious 
conditions in Massachusetts requiring the presence of the unit there, 
the commanding officer of the Massachusetts State Guard unit respect- 
fully requests permission to withdraw from Bellevue Military Hospital 
and to transfer said hospital to the Rhode Island Red Cross division, 
which has signified its willingness to take over the work of the hospital. 

Since the above was dictated, I am in receipt of a telegram from Colonel 
Brooks stating: "It is very important that you and others of the State 
Guard unit return as soon as Mr. Ratshesky is willing, and you can get 
proper accommodations." 

Harold G. Giddings, 
Major, M. C, M. S. G., Commanding. 

Very s'hortly afterward there came the following reply from 
Colonel Bell: — 

Halifax, N. S., December 12, 1917. 

Major H. G. Giddings, M. C, M. S. G., Officer coynmanding Bellevue Hos- 
pital, Halifax. 

Sir: — I have the honor to acknowledge receipt of your communi- 
cation of December 12, 1917, informing me that it is necessary for your 
unit to return at the earliest possible date to take up your military work 
in Massachusetts. 

As the Rhode Island Red Cross division will be able to replace your 
unit at Bellevue Hospital, it will be quite satisfactory for your unit to 
transfer the hospital to them on the 12th instant. 

Permit me to assure you and the other members of j'our unit that 
the city of Halifax is profoundly grateful for the valuable assistance 
which you have rendered during this crisis. Would you kindly convey 
to Colonel Brooks our heartfelt thanks for sending us a unit which was 
most capable and eff-cient in every branch of the medical work, and whose 
organization was perfect. It is with great regret that we see j^our unit 
leaving us, but we realize that the emergency is now over, and your serv- 
ices are needed at home. 



19 

Again thanking you on behalf of the Medical Relief Committee and 
the Department of Militia and Defence for your excellent services, I 
have the honor to be, sir, 

Your obedient servant, 

F. McK. Bell, Lieutenant-Colonel, 
Assistaiif Director Medical Services, Medical District No. 6. 

In reply to this letter from Colonel Bell I sent the following, 
with a copy of my report to you dated December 10. The 
report was forwarded with the letter, at Colonel Bell's request. 

Bellevue Military Hospital, 
Halifax, N. S., December 12, 1917. 

Colonel McK. Bell, Church of England Institute, Halifax, N. S. 

My Dear Colonel Bell: — I am enclosing a copy of mj^ initial report 
to Colonel Brooks. I wish also to take this opportunity to express to 
you, on behalf of the Massachusetts State Guard medical unit, the pro- 
found thanks of each and every member of the organization for the many 
courtesies and very great help which you have extended. Had you not 
come to our aid as you did when we arrived here ready for work, it would 
have been quite impossible for us to have accomplished our modest 
contribution in relief work. I would make special mention of the serv- 
ices rendered, if I may so term them, by Captain Barrett. His tireless 
energy, his thorough knowledge of military hospital organization, and 
his unfailing courtesy were indeed a bright spot. 

I would also take this occasion to acknowledge with deep thanks your 
very courteous letter authorizing me to hand the command of the hos- 
pital to the Rhode Island division of the Red Cross. 

With sincere regards, believe me, 

Most cordially yours, 

Harold G. Giddings, 
Major, M. C, M. S. G. 

P. S. I am very sure that Colonel Brooks would sanction in any way 
that you see fit the use of the enclosed report. 

Arrangements were then made between jMajor Hough and 
your representative for the transfer of the hospital to the Rhode 
Island contingent at 7 o'clock that evening. During the after- 
noon the doctors and nurses from Rhode Island visited Belle- 
vue, and we pointed out to them its organization and plan 
of operation. At 7 that evening the transfer was formally 
made. 



20 

On the afternoon of the 12th there came a request from Mr. 
Ratshesky that the commanding officer visit jMiss Helen 
Graham, daughter of George E. Graham, General ]\Ianager of 
the Dominion & Atlantic Railways. Miss Graham had a 
septic hand, which had been neglected, the result of being cut 
by flying glass at the time of the explosion. It was necessary 
to open the hand, and that she might have suitable care after 
our unit left Halifax, we were able to have her admitted to the 
Red Cross Hospital under Dr. W. E. Ladd of Boston. 

The general character of the wounds treated at the hospital 
is of interest. They were very largely injuries of the face 
caused by flying glass, and included man}' injuries to the eyes. 
In fact, there were more of these than of any others. The 
explanation of this is as follows. Two explosions occurred; 
one was a comparatively minor affair, but was sufficiently 
severe to bring people to their windows to see what had hap- 
pened; then came the terrific explosion which razed the city 
and created so much havoc. It was at this time that so many 
people were injured by the glass. 

A number of cases of insanity were reported following the 
disaster, but at Bellevue we had only one such. This was a 
woman who finally created so much disturbance that it became 
necessary to transfer her to the Hospital for Insane across the 
harbor, at Dartmouth. Cases of mild shell shock, while not 
officially appearing on the hospital records, were not infrequent. 
This type of case was well illustrated by a stenographer who 
came to work at the hospital. At the time of the accident she 
was but a short distance beyond the more severely affected 
district. After working part of the morning of the 12th (the 
explosion having occurred on the 6th) she was in such a 
nervous state, trembling, occasionally crying and utterly unable 
to concentrate or to manipulate the typewriter, that it became 
necessary to send her home and to bed. 

There were certain bright spots in all the suffering which we 
saw at Bellevue. Social workers, mostly from the Red Cross, 
were constantly coming to the hospital, distributing dainties to 
the children and clothing to all who needed it; and the need 
was surely very great. 

During our first twenty-four hours in the hospital there came 






21 

to us many people who were but slightly injured but who had 
no homes. Of course all such were taken in, accorded every 
attention, and kept at the hospital until the Housing Com- 
mittee had made arrangements to supply them with clothing 
and with accommodations. 

One patient we had in the hospital was a little girl of four 
years who was the only existing member of her family, and who 
could not understand why her calls for "Grannie" were un- 
heeded. 

Another pathetic instance was the following. A little child 
of about three years had had both eyes removed. When she 
recovered from the ether she clapped her hands and gleefully 
remarked to the nurse, "Oh, Nursie, it's night, isn't it?" 

Also among our patients was Corporal Combeau of the 
Canadian Army, who at the time of the disaster was corporal 
of the guard at one of the piers. When he saw the munition 
ship in flames he turned out the guard. As the guard came 
down the pier the explosion occurred, and every man except 
Combeau was killed. He himself was blown in a cloud of 
debris a distance of fully one-half mile. When he came to us 
we found that he had a fracture of the right thigh, and a 
ragged piece of steel was embedded in his left shin; in addition, 
there was a lacerated wound of the left elbow. 

The work of no individual member of the unit stands out 
pre-eminently. Perhaps the one surgeon whose services were 
of the most help was Captain Loring. This was because of the 
great number of eye injuries, already referred to. Captain 
Loring was called upon to do work not only at Bellevue but 
at the Military Hospital, the Halifax Infirmary and at Camp 
Hill Hospital, where he saw, at the request of Lieutenant- 
Governor Calvin Coolidge of Massachusetts, Miss Bertha 
Ferguson, an American girl of Boston. Dr. Loring's presence 
was most urgent!}' needed when we arrived, and his work 
received much favorable comment. 

Arrangements had been made for the care of the hospital 
at night by one medical and one surgical officer. The work 
was done voluntarily throughout our time of occupation by 
Dr. Harrington and Dr. Shea. 

On the afternoon before we left Halifax, Major Baker, Cap- 



22 

tain Nathaniel INIorse and Captain Lapham assumed the role of 
Santa Claus and carried to the children in the hospital a gen- 
erous contribution of toys. 

The day of December 13 was given over to visiting various 
parts of the city and in general getting ready for our departure 
for home on the morning of the l-4th. Up to this time several 
members of the party had not had the opportunity to see the 
devastated area. Through the courtesy of the provost marshal 
of the cit}-, Major Edward IMooney, a most charming and genial 
officer, we were supplied with automobiles and drivers to take 
us through the district, which was, of course, a trip of the 
greatest interest. That evening His Honor Lieutenant-Gov- 
ernor and ]Mrs. F. McCullum Grant, of the Province of Nova 
Scotia, gave to our party a delightful and informal dinner, 
which was in the nature of an official recognition of the ^vork 
the unit had done. Lacking other means of conveyance to the 
Governor's home, the doctors were carried in one of the new 
automobile trucks, the gift of our State, which that day had 
reached Halifax from Boston. 

In addition to the members of our own party there were 
present at the dinner General Benson, commanding the Mili- 
tary District of Halifax, Admiral Chambers, representing the 
Naval Forces there, Colonel F. IMcKelvie Bell, from the Med- 
ical Department of the Dominion, the Hon. R. T. Macllreith, 
Chairman of the Halifax Relief Committee, Mr. John F. Moors, 
of the American Red Cross, and Colonel Edmund Billings, who 
had arrived at Halifa,x on the "Calvin Austin" the night before. 
Speeches were made by all of the above-mentioned guests, and 
in addition Captain Harrington and your representative were 
called upon. The occasion, at which cordiality was the key- 
note, was a most delightful one. Besides the speaking already 
alluded to, a toast was proposed by His Honor the Governor 
to "The President and the King," and both the British and the 
American national anthems were sung. Thus the event as- 
sumed certain international significance. In fact. Governor 
Grant during the course of his remarks expressed what we all 
felt, namely, that, lamentable as the disaster was, it had 
undoubtedly furthered the cordial relations between Canada 
and the United States. 



23 

At the dinner Mr. Macllreith read the following letter, 
which he afterwards presented to the commanding officer of 
the unit: — 

Halifax, N. S., December 13, 1917. 

H. G. GiDDiNGS, Major, Medical Corps, State of Massachusetts, Halifax, 

N.S. 
Dear Major Giddings: — At a meeting of the Executive of the 
Relief Committee, held this afternoon, it was the earnest desire of all 
the members that before the Medical Corps of the State of Massachusetts 
took its departure from Halifax a formal minute should be placed on 
our records, which in the future will be the basis of the official history 
of the Halifax disaster, expressing the committee's deep appreciation of 
the prompt and humane action of the authorities in Boston in dispatch- 
ing your corps to Halifax, and of the professional efficiency and noble 
spirit which you and all members of your unit have exhibited since coming 
to our stricken city. We shall always bear you in grateful remembrance, 
and wish you a safe journey home. 

Yours truly, 

R. T. MacIlreith, 
Chairman, Relief Committee. 

Major Giddings concludes his report with the following sum- 
mary of the work done by the unit : • — 

Total out-patients treated, 167 

Visits in homes, 53 

Hours spent in advisory capacity, 23 

Combined surgical and medical service : — 

Total house admissions, 75 

Total operations done (exclusive of eye service), .... 10 

Total discharges, 17 

Total ethers, 46 

Total ether used (pounds), ^ 

Total cases turned over to Rhode Island unit, 58 

Eye service, Dr. Loring: — 

Total cases seen at Belle vue, 27 

Total cases seen at Cogswell Street Military Hospital, . . 85 
Total cases seen at Halifax Infirmary, 10 

122 

Total operations at Belle vue, 18 

Total operations at Cogswell Street Military Hospital, . . 15 
Total operations at Halifax Infirmary, 2 

35 

In addition to these, 68 others were admitted, of whom no clinical 
records were kept. 



24 

At 9 A.M., December 14, the unit left Halifax for home. 
The return was punctuated by two events worthy -of record. 
As a mark of appreciation the following Canadian officials 
came to the station to pay their respects as the train passed 
through St. John: Sir William Pugsley, the Governor of New 
Brunswick, JVIayor John Hayes of that city. Sir Leonard and 
Mrs. Tilley, and the Hon. H. Hazen, Commander for the Rail- 
ways in the Dominion. Unfortunately, because the train was 
so delayed, these personages could not wait for our arrival and 
had left the station when we reached their city. But their 
spirit of welcome was felt and was none the less appreciated 
because they had been forced to leave. 

During the last morning of the return journey the members 
of the unit met in the dining car, where they formed them- 
selves into a group to be known as the Massachusetts-Halifax 
Relief Associates. The association took birth spontaneously 
and shows in a certain degree the spirit of good fellowship and 
mutual effort at helping one another in the performance of 
our common task which were in evidence throughout the entire 
trip. 

We were welcomed in Boston by a reception committee 
which had provided automobiles to take us to the Algonquin 
Club, where we were delightfully entertained by the Acting 
Chief Surgeon and presented to His Excellency Governor 
McCall. At the close of the luncheon the party broke up and 
returned to their respective homes, each feeling profoundly 
grateful for the privilege which had been accorded him to help 
unfortunate Halifax. 

Too much praise cannot be given those at home who joined 
with you in backing up this expedition in the raising by sub- 
scription, made payable to Robert Winsor, treasurer of the 
Halifax Relief Committee, of about .$700,000; and by forward- 
ing supplies as fast as they could be gathered, under the able 
leadership of Henry B. Endicott, Executive Manager of the 
Massachusetts Public Safety Committee, and his large corps of 
volunteer assistants. Whatever supplies were needed were dis- 
patched by special train, regular train and two relief steam- 
ships, and consisted of all kinds of building material, supplies, 
food, clothing, shoes, ten (two and three ton) motor trucks, 



25 

thousands of blankets and bedding, a large wrecking crew fully 
equipped with necessary machinery, and a score of glaziers 
with enormous quantities of glass, etc. 

Great thanks should be given the Hon. Edmund Billings, 
Collector of the Port of Boston, in whose charge was the relief 
Steamship "Calvin Austin," carrying a large cargo of supplies. 
Great thanks are also due to Mr. John F. O'Connell of the 
Massachusetts Public Safety Committee, who was in charge of 
the relief Steamship "Northland" and its large cargo of 
supplies, and who did such faithful work in getting supplies 
forwarded in the two steamships within a few da}'s of the 
disaster; also to the captain and crew^ of the above-mentioned 
steamships for their faithful services. 

All this work was going on for about ten days, during which 
period your Relief Committee was in Halifax, being aided from 
the beginning by Premier Borden, Governor Grant, General 
Benson, Admiral Chambers and Colonel McKelvie Bell, and to 
whom the Massachusetts unit of the Halifax Relief Committee 
will be forever grateful for their untiring efforts, loyalty and 
assistance. 

Gradually order and regulation began to appear, immediate 
wants having been cared for. The personnel of the com- 
mittees having been selected with great care, with the as- 
sistance of your representatives work proceeded until such 
time as we felt that the citizens of Halifax were able to carry 
on the work. The American Hospital was turned over to 
another unit and we gradually withdrew from the committee, 
leaving the citizens in charge. 

The evening before our departure Governor Grant entertained 
at dinner our entire Massachusetts unit at the Government 
House. He was assisted by General Benson, Admiral Cham- 
bers, Colonel McKelvie Bell and Chairman R. T. Macllreith 
of the Relief Committee. 

All voiced the sentiments of the people of Halifax in praise 
and gratitude for what Massachusetts had done, — first on the 
scene of a great catastrophe, going only when its citizens were 
able to cope with the situation, — and presented the following 
resolutions, passed by the Halifax Committee, representing all 
its citizens and published in all its papers : — 



26 

That the heartfelt thanks of the citizens of HaUfax, as represented by 
this Executive Committee, be telegraphed to the Commonwealth of 
Massachusetts for their overwhelming sympathy, most generous gifts of 
relief supplies, the sorely needed services of doctors and nurses and hos- 
pital units, and especially for the thought of accompanying said gifts 
with the services of A. C. Ratshesky, whose generous and expert advice 
have greatly helped to solve many of our problems, and whose sympa- 
thetic activity and tact will, we trust, soon assist us to bring comparative 
order out of the chaos resulting from the terrible loss of life, crippling of 
the living and terrible devastation of our city. 

To which, that night, I had the honor of replying in the fol- 
lowing message to the citizens of Halifax : — 

Gentlemen : — The resolution passed by your committee at its session 
yesterday afternoon so appealed to me that I felt before leaving the city 
of Halifax I should make the statement how glad I am that the Com- 
monwealth of Massachusetts has been of assistance to you in helping in 
this disaster befalling your city. In my letter of introduction. His Ex- 
cellency Governor McCall of Massachusetts instructed me to do any- 
thing and everything that was possible to alleviate the suffering and 
distress in the different departments in which I have gained experience 
in the crises in other cities. 

It is fair to state that the different committees that I have come in 
contact with are so organized that after a few days they will be in fairly 
perfect running order, and will be able to handle the large volume of 
affairs that will come before them. While it may from time to time 
appear as if the overlapping of work does exist, it will not take long to 
unravel each case as it comes up, and make possible co-operation by 
each committee through the executive. 

I wish to state that the men who have charge of the committee have 
shown that interest and willingness which augur well for the success of 
the work. They have been willing to listen to suggestions and have 
applied themselves in such a way as to bring to the situation that busi- 
ness judgment which must prevail to bring about a satisfactory result. 

I wish to thank Premier Borden, Governor Grant, General Benson, 
Mayor Martin and all members of the general committees and citizens 
for the great assistance which they have afforded in the creating of or- 
ganization. 

I wish to acknowledge the fine co-operation of Colonel McKelvie 
Bell and his department in the ready and hearty assistance afforded the 
medical men of Massachusetts, culminating in the establishment and 
maintenance of Bellevue Hospital. I am quite sure that Major Giddings 
and his staff of doctors and nurses are deeply grateful to him for all the 
attention and thought that he has given, and if the hospital has proved 
the success which has been set for it by all who have been close to its 



27 

work, I feel that Colonel Bell and his staff should participate in any praise 
that is given. 

I wish to extend thanks to the officials of the railway and telegraph 
companies for their co-operation and assistance to the Massachusetts 
unit, and for the magnificent service that they performed, although greatly 
hampered in their operations. 

I also wish to thank Mr. A. S. Busby, Chief Inspector of Customs, and 
Mr. A. S. Mitchell, Collector of Customs for the Port of Halifax, for the 
extreme courtesies extended to the Massachusetts unit relative to customs. 

The newspapers and their staffs have our sincere thanks for their 
kindness and attention. 

What Massachusetts has done is symbolic of what it stands for, — not 
only to help its own citizens but to help all those who may need assist- 
ance, — and when the word came that Halifax was in distress, she could 
not do otherwise than help. The hearts of her people have gone out to 
your citizens, not only in her generous supply of clothing, food and money, 
but, better than all, in that fine sentiment of affection for the people of 
your city that will bring about a strengthened friendship that will last 
for generations to come. 

I am proud of what my State has done. I am also proud of what your 
citizens have done, and sincerely trust, when your city is once more 
established on more normal lines, that Halifax will be a bigger and better 
city. 

God bless you in your endeavors. 

I have authorized the Massachusetts-Halifax Relief Committee to 
enter my personal subscription for the sum of $1,000. 

Yours verj^ truly, 

A. C. Ratshesky. 

When it is considered that in this terrible catastrophe 
eighteen hundred lives were lost, ten thousand people were in 
need of medical attendance (thousands of them severely in- 
jured), twenty-five hundred homes were entirely destroyed, 
together with many churches, schools, hospitals, asylums, 
public buildings, factories and warehouses (not a building, 
practically, escaping without some damage, all glass in the 
greater part of the city being shattered), a loss of above 
$30,000,000, ■ — your vision and foresight in realizing the im- 
portance of acting quickly meant ever}i:hing to Halifax. Your 
instructions to me to "go the limit" were carried out to the 
letter, and the Massachusetts relief train was the first to enter 
the devastated city. The results are almost incredible. The 
Commonwealth of Massachusetts can well feel proud of its 
achievement. 



28 

We shall always be very grateful to you for the privilege 
given us to do our part in alleviating the intense suffering which 
followed in the wake of the catastrophe. We were proud to 
be the standard bearers on the errand of mercy, and the fact 
that (quoting from your letter of December 6) "the Common- 
wealth of Massachusetts stood back of us in every way" 
spurred us on to do the best that within us lay. ,_' 

I cannot refrain at this time from commending to the people 
of Massachusetts, through you, the entire unit of the relief 
party, — the great service and devotion to the work in which 
they so cheerfully enlisted; the representatives of railroads; 
the trainmen who rescued us from long delay by their willing- 
ness to help, at great discomfort to themselves; representa- 
tives of the press; and last, but not least, the magnificent spirit 
exhibited by all the people in Halifax, who realized that your 
Relief Committee came as brothers and sisters to help them in 
relieving those who were so sorely stricken. 

Respectfully submitted, 

A. C. RATSHESKY, 

Commissioner-in-Charge, Halifax Relief Expedition. 



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